Speakers at a programme today (Monday) called for taking necessary steps aimed at improving the conditions of the country’s backward communities such as Dalits (untouchable people) and indigenous people for the overall development of the country.
The two communities are not only economically backward but also socially excluded, they said while addressing an experience sharing workshop on Access to Markets and Social Inclusion of Minorities project at Spectra Convention Centre at Gulshan in the capital.
Practical Action (PA), a UK-based NGO, supported by HEKS/EPER, a Switzerland-based NGO, organized the programme.
Dr. Mohammad Ainul Haque, director general of Department of Livestock Services, attended as the chief guest while Anik Asad, Country Director of HEKS, as special guest at the function.
Chaired by Hasin Jahan, Bangladesh Country Director of PA, Abdur Rob, head of Food, Agriculture, Market, CC and DRR programme of PA, Nurun Nahar, market development specialist of HEKS, among others, spoke on the occasion. Mirza Kholil Zibran, project manager of PA, presented the keynote paper on the project.
The speakers called upon all stakeholders to come forward so that economic condition of the two communities, who comprise 1.7% of the country’s total population, is improved along with their social inclusion in the society.
The function was told that conditions of a large number of people of the two communities improved due to implementation of the project in the last three years in several northern districts. There will be massive change if initiatives are taken up on a large scale.
